Victoria, Mahe, 25 February 2008 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo said the World Health organization is fully committed to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He pointed out that the WHO 11th Global Programme of Work is harmonized with the MDGs and at country level the Country Cooperation Strategies will be fully aligned to national health plans.

Dr Sambo made this statement in his keynote address during the official opening of the 46th Eastern Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA), Health Ministers’ conference.

The five day conference organized by ECSA and the Ministry of Health and Social Development in Seychelles is taking place in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles from 25th to 29th February 2008.

In his address Dr Sambo also stressed that the decentralization of health services, community participation and greater involvement of local authorities in health matters have proven to be successful. He stated that countries need to scale up best practices to get more health outcomes and move faster in achieving the MDGs. Health needs to be looked at in a holistic way and that whilst many countries in Africa are making reforms in the health sector, monitoring and evaluation should be considered an important part of that process.

Dr Sambo concluded by commending the efforts of governments and express recognition on the important roles the ECSA Secretariat was playing in improving health in Africa. “We have no choice but to be optimistic”, he said.

Under the theme, Improving the performance of health systems: from policy to action, the conference aims to provide a forum for member states to review the performance of health systems and discuss progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, share experiences on health care delivery systems, review the progress in the implementation of past resolutions and approve the new ECSA Health Community Strategic Plan 2008-2012.

Over 130 delegates from ten-member countries are attending the conference as well as representatives from several global health partners, such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Clinton Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat

For more information contact:

Dr Fernando da Silveira, WLO/Seychelles

Tel + 248 224795,

email: dasilveiraf [at] afro.who.int (dasilveiraf[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)

Henry Bastienne, HIP

Tel +248 224795,

email: bastienneh [at] afro.who.int (bastienneh[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)